Tuesday, 9 August 2016

July Progress & News

What does July mean for quilters? - Christmas of course!

This is the time of year when the fabric companies release their Christmas fabric collections. Desperate to help quilters buy up that fabric get a head start on their Christmas gift list, they enlist the help of bloggers to share the fabrics with you. We all know that's what's happening, don't we? but who doesn't love thinking about snuggling up in front of a blazing fire in the middle of our summer heat? The truth is a quilt isn't made overnight (I know, sometimes they just have to be ;) ) so it does make sense to get a head start and those fabrics are pretty cute so I declare myself guilty of joining in the craziness that is Christmas in July.

The thing is I now have all my Christmas cards made, not one but three Christmas pillows for my sofas and a Christmas snuggle quilt - I'm a very happy bunny (or maybe that should be penguin?)

Never one for being selfish I've shared everything I've made with you this month in the form of tutes so you can make some too - links included below. Let's quickly recap what I've been working on before we move on to my news and look at upcoming August projects.

The pattern for my detachable wallet and key clip to co-ordinate with the reversible tote bag I designed for Benartex was released on the Benartex blog;

and I caught up on my June Improv: Beyond The Bee block for my NYC Metro MOD Quilt Guild sewing bee.

I led a fab Social Sewing evening at Gotham Quilts in July too, there was a plenty sewing going on as well as a lot of chatting and laughing.

Amanda, a student from one of my Jelly Roll Quilt classes last year finished sewing together her quilt top from that class and we basted it on the wall - have you ever basted a quilt on the wall? I love sharing how to use techniques like this in my sewing sessions. While it was still on the wall I snapped this pic of the top - I absolutely love this all solid, two colour version of my quilt technique, I think it's stunning.

I'll be hosting Social Sewing at Gotham Quilts again on Saturday, 13 August, 6-10 pm - 40 W37th Street, Suite 603, Manhattan. There are 2 slots left so don't think about it too long if you'd like to us - you can click through here to book online. I won't be teaching in September and October as I'm travelling to South Africa and Spain.

There were two made by ChrissieD newsletters in July. I have to admit I've been taken totally by surprise at the success of the newsletter - readership currently stands at 1,528 with a 57% open rate which really isn't shabby. Just in case you missed them here's the links so you can catch up:

There's a lot of overlap between the content of the newsletter and my monthly progress updates so I've decided I'll continue the WIP/UFO updates on the blog through to the end of December, then I'll include my Trello images monthly in the newsletter instead.

If you'd like to subscribe and have future newsletters emailed directly to you, you can do so here - and, I'd love it if you'd let your friends know too :D

Projects in the pipeline for August include:

A First Blush quilt - First Blush is a new fabric collection by Ruby Red Designs/It's So Emma for Windham Fabrics available in September. I'm working on a quilt pattern that I'll share with you on 10 October, I've sewn the quilt rows together and I'm ready to add the borders.

There's a Benartex Back To School blog hop coming up and I'm finalising a tute for a pencil case I've designed using the new Simply Chic fabric collection. I've not seen a pencil case like it on the internet - and that's pretty hard to achieve these days when everything's been done before! so I hope it works and you love it.

I've got 2 more fabric collections to work with from Windham Fabrics - Lotta Jansdotter's Hemma and Annabel Wrigley's Maribel - both collections are available this month. Waiting to hear what Windham would like me to do with them.

I've designed a wall quilt pattern using Dupioni silk that will be available later this year to buy as a kit from my friend Susan Sato @Easy Piecing. I'll let you know more about it as it progresses.

I've got several other projects I have to complete this month too:

A vendor apron to wear at Quilters Take Manhattan

July Improv: Beyond The Bee block - I've actually completed this now but I'll share it in my August progress report.

I have to plan and send out the September Improv: Beyond The Bee block - it's my turn to be Queen Bee

NYC Metro MOD Quilt Guild Summer Paint Chip Challenge 18" mini quilt

Finally, it's time to take a look how my UFO/WIP List looked at the end of June;

and let's compare it with the end of June - those last 5 columns on the right are all finished work:

Can't get over how much I'm achieving though I'd like to move more of the WIP/UFOs to the completed side rather than adding newly completed projects. I'm using the web app Trello, a digital notebook, you can read more about it here in my January Progress Report.

and here's my updated UFO/WIP list at end July 2016

I'll carry on including the list in this format too so you can click through to the blog posts and read more but I'll also include my Trello boards because these are such a great visual of my progress.

To keep track of all related blog posts in one place I've created a page you can click through to and see this post and each of my monthly update reports; you can click through to it here.

Have you sworn to clear your UFOs/WIP this year? How are you going about it? Let me know if you start using the Trello app too.
Do share your ideas and progress, you might just inspire someone to do the same :D

Clicking on an image will take you to a new page of crafty goodness :)

Disclaimer:

This post is for informational purposes only, no payment or commission is received on click-throughs to links shared.

Linky Parties This post may be linked to some great Linky Parties, always a great source of inspiration too. If you click through to my 'Fave Linky Parties' page you can see where I like to share my work.

4 comments:

I'm popping by to thank you for your blog posts. I really enjoy them. I looked for the wall basting method but couldn't find it. I did see lots of other interesting posts and tutorials including the post about your sewing studio. I loved the views of NYC but I couldn't have a view like that or I wouldn't get anything done. I currently have a crammed one bedroom apt. and need to find a new apt. and would love to get a two bedroom but know that won't happen now. I am putting "bright" at the top of the "must-have" list. Thanks again for creating an inspirational blog for us!

Hi Mary, apols if my post mislead you, I don't have a wall basting tute on the blog as yet, I was referring to showing it to a student in the classroom. It would be an easy tute to share here on the blog though so the next time I'm wall basting at home, I'll take pics and create a tute. You've given me the nudge to do it! The beauty of living on the west bank of the Hudson River is the light in my apartment, it's one of the main reasons I chose to live in Jersey City rather than in Manhattan - size wise I compare it to living in a NJ boot box rather than a NY shoe box but the light is so much better and, of course, I have the incredible view :D Chris

I'm so enjoying seeing you blogging again Martha; I've always been a huge fan of your work and your photography is stunning. I know I get through a lot and sometimes I feel I'm working a production line rather than being creative in my art - a line may need to be drawn at some point. Thanks so much for saying it's inspiring, that makes my day :D

I love to hear from everyone, thank you for taking the time to read my blog and share your thoughts. Please leave a message to let me know you visited, it's a great way to get to know you all better too :)